Illuminated ten yard marker stick



Aug. 16, 1949. W, J, FRU-T3 2,479,157

ILLUMINATED TEN YARD MARKER STICK Filed Feb; 5, 1948 ATTCI RN EYE Patented Aug. 16, 1949 UNITED" STIES PATENT" l 2,479,157 ILLUMINATED TEN YARD MARKER STICK Walter'J. Fritts, Mount Sterling, Ky. Application February 3, 1948, Serial No. 6,0.69 1 Claim. (Cl. 240-6.42)

This invention relates to yardage marking sticks for football games, and more particularly to an illuminated stick that is adaptable for use when the game is played at night.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an illuminated marking stick that will be visible to the spectators and players at night when the games are played under artificial light.

Another object of the invention is to provide a yardage stick that is adapted to be illuminated and is self-contained, since it carries its own current source.

A further object of the invention is to provide a yardage stick that is simple in construction, easy to operate, is durable and inexpensive to manufacture for the purpose designed.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical, elevational and partial sectional view of one yard stick marker;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and y Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of Figure 2. Y

Referring more in detail to the drawing, there is shown the yardage marker assembly I0 which comprises the pair` of marker Sticks II and II respectively, and since the sticks are identical in construction, it is believed that a description of one will be taken to properly describe the other.

Each yard stick comprises a tubular body I2, which is provided with longitudinally extending relatively spaced slots I3, which extend for'substantially the entire length of the body I2.

The slots are used if the body is opaque, as when made of aluminum or similar materials. fi'fif .c transparentplastic, the slots would not be necessary.V

The upper end of each body is provided with threads I4, to receive the removable screw cap I5, and the lower end .of the body is provided with threads to receive the screw cap I6 carrying the ground penetrating spike I'I.

The cap I6 carries the eye bolt I8, which is connected to the ten yard marking chain I9, by which the yardage is marked, and the sticks are joined in assembled form.

At its opposite end, the bolt I8 also carries the the assembly foot bracket 20, whereby the lineman may put his foot on the bracket to press the spike into the ground.

The body of the sticks is provided with a transparent tube 2l, which is positioned in the body to the rear of the slots I3, and lugsr22 formed in the body retain the tube in place therein.

Engaging the lugs 22, on the side thereof, op-

posite to the tube 2l, are the semi-spherical reflectors 23, which carry the flashlight bulbs 24.

. Current is supplied to the bulbs in the conveny tional manner, by the dry cells 25 placed at the top and bottom ends of the body of the sticks. Both of the caps also carry the pressure springs 26 whereby the batteries are pressed into engagement with each bulb in the usual manner.

Each stick, at each end, is provided with a switch 21, whereby the current from the batteries to the bulbs is controlled in the usual manner.

Each stick, therefore, is constructed similar to a flashlight, so that Vthe completion of the circuit to each bulb is the same as in an ordinary flashlight.

The bulbs can one bulb illuminated be used simultaneously or only at a time. Thus the batteries will usually last through an entire game without replacement.

The use of such a yardage marker assemblyv permits both the players and the fans to know the exact yardage to be made at night time, and thus keep both apprised of the approximate position of the ball during the game.

The yardage marker assembly is used in the conventional manner, except that it can be illuminated at the right time for the purpose previously set forth.

It is believed that the construction of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that changes in the formation and arrangement .of the various parts may be resorted to, provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim. Y

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A yardage marker stake comprising a tubular body, a removable cap at the upper and lower ends of the body, a ground engaging spike on the lower cap, a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending and relatively spacedV slots in the body, inwardly directed lugs on the inner surface of said body positioned at the opposite ends of the slots, a transparent tube in said body rearwardly .of said slots and supported by said lugs, semispherical reectors engaging the opposite sides 3 of the lugs. bulbs carried by said reflectors, batteries engaging said bulbs at both ends of said body and a switch at each end of the body interposed into the battery circuit for controlling the illumination of the bulbs,

WALTER. J. FRITTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

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